Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ucdavis!csusac!sactoh0!pacengr!americ!erk From: erk@americ.UUCP (Erick Parsons) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Optical interconnects Message-ID: Date: 8 Mar 91 11:49:33 GMT References: <782@spim.mips.COM> Distribution: na Lines: 57 >In article <782@spim.mips.COM> reddy@mips.com (T.S. Reddy) writes: > > Has anyone tried to make their own fiber optic interconnects? From >what I know, the optical input/output receptacles on audio/video products >for most brands are similar, so I would think that standardized parts for >fashioning such a beastie would be available. I am not familiar with >the techniques involved in cutting/splicing fiber optic cables, but >if anyone could enlighten me, I would be grateful. I've never fooled around with fiber optics myself but have heard horror stories concerning splicing/repairing these beasties. I occasionally work with the USA division (Underground Service Alert) where I work and talk regularly with employees doing the same for the telephone company and other utilities. There was reportedly a telephone Fiber Optic cable that had been hit by a backhoe which required splicing, I'm a little fuzzy on the details as it was about a year ago, but I do remember reeling when I heard the cost to resplice this baby, 6 digits ! They (Whoever splices) do the splicing inside a specially constructed truck that is for all intents and purposes -air tight-. They also at some point in the splicing have to use a microscope to align the fibers to avoid losses in the strand. The only clue I have as to how many fibers might be in a bundle would be from the conduit that I've seen and the fact that you have to splice the fibers with a microscope. The conduit they used for the TransAmerica (for lack of a better name) cable is about 8-10" in diameter. It is divided inside into 4 sections internally which would give each section an area of less the 12 sq. inches. probably about 8. Unfortunately I did not see the cable being pulled in but given the expense of running a conduit from San Fransisco to Washington D.C. I would guess that they are using about 40 - 50 % of each section for fibers with about 5 - 10% of that being sheath. The fibers are about 3 mils in diameter each. Worst case given these guesses would put the number of fibers in each cable at about 1200 fibers. This particular line BTW is burried in concrete, pipe cable and all. 1200 fibers as a guess for the cable mentioned in the first paragragh at over 100,000 dollars to repair ! This should be a plausible way to make money ;-) P.S. This is just a guess based on what I've heard from others and from what I've seen, read. Any and All corrections gladly accepted. >Thanks in advance. >T.S.Reddy For a good understanding of the basics and some applications you might want to pick up the book Understanding Optronics at your local Radio Shlack. These books are written for Texas Instruments and are dirt cheap for what you get. That is if they are still available. -- -------------------------------------------------//------------------------- (ames att sun)!pacbell! ----> sactoh0!pacengr!americ!erk Multitasking, ucbvax!ucdavis!csusac! --/ // Never leave uunet!msac! -/ Erick Parsons \Sacramento Ca Home Without it --------------------------------------------\X/-----------------------------